Michelin Opens $750 Million Earthmover Tire Manufacturing Plant In Anderson County, South Carolina

Area Development News Desk

12/12/2013

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Michelin opened its newest 800,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Anderson County, South Carolina, which will produce large tires for earthmoving equipment.

As South Carolina's largest manufacturing employer, Michelin constructed a $750 million, facility and expanded its existing Earthmover manufacturing plant in Lexington, South Carolina. Both projects created hundreds of jobs, with expectations of hiring several hundred more workers in future years.

"Michelin continues to make investments in multiple countries around the world that will position our company for long-term growth," said Pete Selleck, Michelin North America Chairman and President. "It's a source of pride to know that what we're doing right here in South Carolina plays such an important role in our company's global business strategy. It's a testament to the business-friendly climate in the state and the dedicated, productive and skilled workforce that serves as the engine behind our success."

The new facility, known as US10, is Michelin's 19th plant in North America and ninth in the state of South Carolina. It will produce large Earthmover tires, which can stand up to 13 feet tall and weigh up to 5.5 tons, for more than 1,300 mining operations around the world. Eighty percent of the tires manufactured at this facility will be exported, most of it through the Port of Charleston.

"That we have constructed this state of the art facility in 17 months is nothing short of remarkable," said Bruce Brackett, Senior Vice President, Michelin Earthmover and Industrial Tires Worldwide. "These tires are no ordinary ones, and they cannot be built just anywhere by just anyone. The fact is, the Michelin Earthmover tire is a highly sophisticated product to develop and build, and today South Carolina is the leader for the vast Michelin Group."

Since 1975, Michelin said it has invested more than $5 billion in the state of South Carolina. The company announced investments of $1.15 billion in the past two years alone. Currently, more than 8,000 of Michelin North America's 22,000 employees are based in the state.

"Today is another example of Michelin's 40-year commitment to the state of South Carolina," said Gov. Nikki Haley. "With billions invested in our state, the creation of thousands of jobs and countless community-focused activities that have enriched the lives of South Carolinians, Michelin has set a high standard for manufacturing in our state."

The new Earthmover tire plant is adjacent to Michelin's existing rubber processing plant in Starr, South Carolina, and is the third Michelin plant in Anderson County. The company also operates a 2.5 million square foot rubber processing plant, the largest in the world, in Sandy Springs.